Ronaldo Augusto Vieira Nan (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁuˈnaldu viˈɐjɾɐ]; born 19 July 1998) is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the Guinea-Bissau national team.
Born in Guinea-Bissau, and also holding Portuguese nationality, he was an England U21 international before switching to Guinea-Bissau.
Vieira was raised in Portugal, where he signed for the academy at S.L. Benfica, the club he supported. He left Portugal in 2011 in search of more job opportunities for his family in England.
Vieira began playing football in England when local coach Mark Bryden asked him to sign for Whitley Bay Boys Club, a local team near Newcastle. Vieira then moved to Yorkshire and played two seasons in the Huddersfield Junior Football League for Batley Phoenix under the tutelage of coach Tony Shuttleworth. Vieira also had unsuccessful trials at Premier League sides Manchester City and Hull City.
Vieira then signed for York-based i2i Football Academy under the coaching of Nelly (head coach at i2i) whilst studying at York College. He joined Leeds United on trial in September 2015, after being recommended by his York College and i2i teammate's father, Mark Hamilton. Vieira was due to sign for York City until he was recommended by Mark Hamilton, who is a long time friend of the head of recruitment at Leeds, Terry Potter. Vieira signed for the academy after impressing
After impressing for the academy, Vieira signed a two-year professional deal with Leeds on 5 May 2016. Highly rated by then Head Coach Steve Evans, Vieira was named on the bench for Leeds on 7 May 2016 against Preston North End, and made his debut in the same game coming on as a substitute for Stuart Dallas in a 1–1 draw.
Vieira became a regular starter for the first team during the 2016–17 pre-season under new head coach Garry Monk, including in the final pre season friendly against Serie A side Atalanta, where Vieira received the man of the match award in a 2–1 win.
On 5 August 2016, Vieira was given the squad number 25 shirt for the upcoming 2016–17 season. On 7 August, on the opening day of the 2016–17 season Vieira made his first Leeds start against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–0 defeat, with Vieira also giving away a penalty.
On 1 September 2016, with Vieira now part of Leeds' first-choice central midfield pairing with Liam Bridcutt, it was announced that Ronaldo had signed a new three-year deal with the Elland Road club. It was also confirmed on the same day, that twin brother, Romario Vieira had signed a one-year contract with Leeds after signing from Tadcaster Albion, joining up with the development squad for the 2016–17 campaign.
On 26 October, Vieira scored the winning penalty for Leeds in the club's penalty shootout victory against Norwich City in the English League Cup, after a dramatic 2–2 draw in normal time.
On 5 November, Vieira scored his first goal from open play, once again against Norwich City. His 90th-minute strike from long distance was enough to see Leeds edge out a 3–2 victory at Carrow Road.
After becoming a first team regular and a key player at the club, playing 37 games during the 2016–17 season on 30 April 2017 Vieira was named the Young Player Of The Year at Leeds United's end of season awards. During the course of the season, Vieira was described as a 'wonderkid' by International Business Times.
On 24 May 2017, Vieira was rewarded for his impressive form and signed a new long-term deal at the club signing a 4-year contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2020–21 season.
He scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season on 22 August 2017, scoring a goal in Leeds' 5–1 EFL Cup victory against Newport County. On 22 November, Vieira received his first professional red card when he was sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On 31 January 2018, Ronaldo's brother Romario Vieira was named on the substitutes bench for Leeds for the first time against Hull City in Leeds' 0–0 draw, in the process Ronaldo and Romario became the third set of brothers to ever feature in a match day squad for Leeds United after Eddie and Frank Gray, and Ray and Rod Wallace.
On 19 February 2018, Ronaldo Vieira was named '20th' in the most promising under 20 prospects in the whole of Europe, Vieira featured in a prestigious list by CIES with the likes of AC Milan Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma featuring in 1st place and PSG Striker Kylian Mbappe in 3rd place.
On 16 April 2018, Vieira was nominated as one of four players for Leeds United's Young Player of The Year award but lost out to Bailey Peacock-Farrell who won the Young Player of the Year award at Leeds' annual award ceremony.
With a delayed return to the start of pre-season under new Leeds Head Coach Marcelo Bielsa after Vieira participated for England U21's in the 2018 Toulon Tournament, Vieira was named as captain for Leeds in their pre-season friendly 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018, where he played in an unfamiliar new centre-back role. He also captained the side vs Oxford United and Guiseley. On 26 July 2018, he was given the number 8 shirt for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.